Hoisting apparatus



May 6, 1941. E 5l-1mm E-l-AL 2,241,275

HoIsTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1940 Patented May 6, 1941 nolsrmcArraasrvs Edward Shinn, North Arlington, and Edward Shinn, Jr.. WestOrange. N. J.

ApplicatlonMarch 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,646

BCiaims.

Our invention relates to elevators, more particularly to improvements inportable elevators suitable for building operations.

In the usual building operations where the building is more than onestory it is customary to build temporary elevator towers on the Ilob forhoisting building materials. Conventional portable elevators are notsuitable for use except for comparatively low heights. Those of anyheight require elaborate auxiliary bracing which must be installed afterthe elevator is in position on the job and in case of carelessness inassembly, collapse and injury may result when the elevator is inoperation. While some attempt has been made to provide collapsible typesfor easy transportation, those available require considerable spacewhile being transported iromone point to another and cannot as a rule becarried easily as a unit in a disassembled condition. Those that do havemeans for providing collapsing without completely knocking down theassembly provide a bulky piece of equipment which will not clear theusual head room that conventional trucks are required to clear.Furthermore, no ready or convenient means is provided for raising theelevator tower and locking it in operating position. In the usualarrangement the elevator platforms cannot be collapsed but must -remainin operating position which still further increases the diiliculty ofproviding a compact unit which can be easily collapsed or folded fortransportation from one point to another. The usual conventionalportable elevator is not capable of handling suiilciently heavy loadswithout considerable bracing external to the apparatus which must beassembled after the elevator is in position.

It is, therefore, the principal object of our invention to provide animproved type of portable elevator which may be collapsed and foldedinto a comparatively small space for quick land easy transportation fromone point to another on conventional means available, such, for example,as conventional motor trucks ranging from two to ilve tons.

It is another object of our invention to provide such a device whichupon arrival at the point of use can be quickly adjusted to operatingposition and which can be securely locked in operating position withoutthe necessity of auxiliary external bracing ties and bolts and whichnevertheless is strong, rigid and suitable for use to considerableheights.

It is another object of our invention to provide a device of thischaracter which when folded ln a collapsed position is capable ofclearing substantially the same head room as the usual motor truck.

It is a further object of our invention to provide such an elevator inwhich the elevator platform can be folded into a small space and whichnevertheless can be quickly adjusted to operating position and locked inthis position for use.

Another object of our invention is to provide such a device which iscapable of handling heavy loads at comparatively greater heights thanportable elevators now available.

A still further object of our invention is to provide such a devicewhich requires a minimum of locking elements to lock the elevator towerand elevator platform in operating position.

A still further object of our invention is to provide such a device inwhich the hoisting motor and cable can be used for the dual purpose ofhoisting the tower into operating position and can also be used foroperating the elevator platorm.

'I'he novel features which we believe to be characteristic of ourinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims,` butthe invention itself will best be understood by reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the elevator devicemade according to our invention and collapsed in folded position readyfor transportation from one point to another. Figure 2 is a partial sideview in elevation showing the tower and the elevator platform inoperating position, Figure 3 shows detalls of construction of theelevator carriage and elevator platform and Figure 4 is a view partiallyin transverse section showing the tower cross-section, frame and theelevator platform in operating position with roof extended.

As shown in Figure 1 the portable base is in this case a conventionalmotor driven truck Il which carries a frame comprising the verticalcolumns Il secured together at the top by the cross beam I2 and crossbeam I I. Pivotally mounted at the upper outside end of the frame at thepoint I4 is the elevator tower il comprising the U-channel-shaped hoistway 2l secured together bycross ties 25 and braced by the trussconstruction portion 28, this tower having a U- shaped transversesection as best shown in Figure 4 such that it can be telescoped overthe frame comprising members Il, l2 and I3. The frame member I2 isprovided with one or more apertures I6 which when the tower is in avertical or operating position registers with one or more apertures I1in the tower proper, a locking element in the form of a threaded rod orbolt passing through these apertures for maintaining the tower locked invertical position. The upper end of the tower carries the hoist cablepulley I8 over which the hoisting cable I9 is guided.

'I'he portable base or truck carries the hoisting engine which operatesthe elevator 2| when it is in operating position by means of cable I9and also is used to rotate or pivot the tower into operating position bymeans of the same cable, which passes over the guide roller 23.

Pivotally attached to the top of the frame are rooiing members 24 whichcanl be swung outwardly, when the tower is in vertical position, toprovide protection for the hoisting engine 20 and the operator. It willthus be seen that when the tower is in the collapsed position ittelescopes over the frame II so that frame, tower and roflng members 24all occupy substantially the same space on the frame, thus providing amost compact unit for transportation and requiring no more than theusual head room of conventional trucks.

Figure 2 shows the tower after being pivoted to the operating positionto bring the apertures I6 and I1 int alignment so that the locking boltsmay be inserted through those apertures and locked with a nut. It willthus be apparent that only one locking member need be used to lock thetower in operating position, thus eliminating all auxiliary bracingties. Because the pivot is at the upper right hand edge of the framemember II and because the frame is encompassed within the legsof thetransverse section of the tower, the load on theplatform is appliedthrough channel members 25 and down through frame member I I so that theturning moment on the frame and the portable base is substantially aminimum, the hoisting engine and the weight of the truck engine beingmore than sufiicient to prevent any accidental overturning of the towerabout the pivot point I4. In orderto raise the tower to operatingposition a locked loop is made in the hoisting cable I9 in anyconvenient manner and inserted through the open eye member 22 secured tothe bottom of the tower as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tower is thenpulled into operating position and after locking bolts have beeninserted through the apertures I6 and I1 the loop in the hoisting cableis then released after which the elevatorY platform is opened up intooperating position so that the hoisting drum and engine are then inposition to raise and lower the hoisting platform by means of a hoistingcable. The tower is nicely balanced on the pivot point so that when itis desired to lower the tower after the locking bolts are withdrawn onlya slight push is necessary to start the tower towards its horizontalnoni-operating position, the hoisting drum and cable being used to lowerthe tower gently to non-operating position. It will be noted in thisoperating position that theelevator platform has been opened up tooperating position, the details of construction of which are shown ingreater detail in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3 the elevator platform 'assembly 2| comprises aframe carriage having uprights 21 (only one of which is shown) thetransverse members 28 and 29, this carriage Pivotally mounted at 32 isthe frame 33 of cantilever construction upon which is supported theelevator platform 34, the pivoted sides 3B and 39 being maintained inoperating position by the cross tie member 31. The platform may belocked in operating position by means of an extension 39 having anaperture registering with an aperture in the fra-me through 'which bolt40 extends and locks the frame to the carriage in operating position.

Figure 4 shows the relationship of frame, tower and platform and the cross section of the tower in operating position.

While we have indicated the preferred embodiments of our invention ofwhich we are now aware and have also indicated only one specificapplication for which our invention may be employed. it will be apparentthat our invention is by no means limited to the exact forms illustratedor the use indicated, but that many variations may be made in theparticular structure used and the purpose for which it is employedwithout departing from the scope of our invention as set forth in theappended claims.

What we claim as new is:

1. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, arectangular shaped frame on said base, an elevator tower of U-shapedcross' section pivoted intermediate its ends to the top of and at oneend of said frame and mounted to telescope over and lie against the topof said frame when in a collapsed position, a hoisting engine near theother end of said frame from the pivoted mounting of said tower, a roofmember for said hoisting engine pivotally mounted to said frame andmovable toward a horizontal position away from said frame when saidtower is in upright position but foldable against said frame when saidtower is in collapsed nonoperating position so that said tower, frameand roofing member occupy substantially the same space when in telescopeposition.

2. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, a frame onsaid base, an elevator tower of U-shaped cross section pivotedintermediate its ends to the top of and at one end of said frame andmounted to encompass the frame between the legs of the U-shaped sectionwhen lowered to a non-operating position against the top of the frame,said tower including a pair of oppositely disposed U-shaped membersrigidly secured together and providing hoist ways, the legs of saidtower being of truss construction, an elevator carriage movable in saidhoist ways and an elevator platform pivotally mounted on said carriageand collapsible against said carriage when said tower is innon-operative position upon said frame.

3. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, a frame onsaid base, an elevator tower of U-shaped cross section pivotedintermediate its ends to the top of and at one end of said frame, andmovablefbetween a horizontal non-operating position and a verticaloperating position and mounted to receive the top of said frame betweenthe legs of the U-shaped cross section when saidY tower is moved tonon-operating position against the top of said frame, hoisting mechanismwithin said frame, roofing members pivoted to the top of said frame :andmovable outwardly to provide a roofing over the hoisting mechanism whensaid tower is moved to its vertical operating position, an elevatorcarriage carried by and movable with respect to said tower,

an elevator platform pivotally secured to said carriage and movablebetween a collapsed position against said carriage and an operatingposition perpendicular to said carriage, said frame and roofing membersbeing received between the ing movable as a unit from a horizontal non.

operating position on the top of said frame to an upright position onthe frame, and means for engaging said frame and said tower to lock saidtower in a vertical position, said channel-shaped members substantiallyregistering with one end of said frame whereby pressure on said tower istransmitted to said frame at one end thereof, said tower being balancedon its pivot so that a slight pressure against the lower end of saidtower when in vertical position will start said tower to horizontalnon-operating position, and means for raising and lowering said tower.

5. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, a frame onsaid base, an 'elevator tower pivoted intermediate its ends to the topof and at one end of the frame and comprising a pair of U-shaped channelmembers oppositely disposed and rigidly secured together, said towerbeing movable from a horizontal non-operating position on the top ofsaid frame to a vertical position on the frame, and means for engagingsaid frame and said tower to lock said tower in a vertical position, anelevator carriage carried by said tower and movable in said channelmembers and carrying an elevator platform assembly, said elevatorplatform assembly comprising a cantilever frame pivotally attached atone end to said carriage and supporting a platform and having sidesfoldable against the elevator platform whereby said elevator platformassembly may be elevator carriage carried by said tower and movable insaid channel members and carrying an elevator platform assembly, saidelevator platform assembly comprising a cantilever yframe pivotallyattached at one end to said carriage and carrying a platform and havingsides foldable against the elevator platform whereby said elevatorplatform assembly may be-foided in co1- lapsed position against saidcarriage for transportation purposes when said tower is in horizontalnon-operating position. a hoisting engine mounted on said portable baseand a cable connected between said hoisting engine and said elevatorcarriage for operating said elevator platform assembly, when said toweris in vertical operating position, and means for connecting one end ofsaid tower and said cable whereby said hoisting engine can move saidtower to a vertical operating position from said non-operating position.

7. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, a frame onsaid base, an elevator tower pivoted intermediate its ends to the top ofsaid frame, and movable between a horizontal non-operating position anda vertical operating position, said elevator tower including a pair ofchannel shaped members, an elevator carriage mounted within said channelmembers, an elevator platform pivotally mounted on said carriage andcollapsible against said carriage when said tower is in non-operatingposition on said frame, said platform including sides pivoted theretoand means for maintaining said sides in an upright positionv on saidplatform. 1

8. A portable hoisting apparatus comprising a portable base, arectangular shaped frame on said base, an elevator tower of U-shapedcross folded in collapsedv position against said carriage sectionpivoted intermediate its ends tn the top of and at one end of said frameand mounted to telescope over and lie against the top of said frame whenin a collapsed non-operating position, a hoisting engine mounted withinsaid frame, a roof member for said hoisting member pivotally mounted tosaid frame and movable toward a horizontal position away from said framewhen said tower is inoperating position but foldable against said framewhen said tower is in collapsed non-operating position so that saidtower, frame and rooilng member occupy substantially the same space whenin telescoped position, said tower including a pair of oppositelydisposed U-shaped members secured together and providing hoist ways. anelevator carriage movable in said hoist ways, a cantilever frame EDWARDsHnsN, Jn. EDWARD BHINN.

